Community Highlights: Meet Jessica And Gigi of The Laundry Room

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jessica And Gigi.

Hi Jessica and Gigi, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Gigi – I’m originally from Turkey. I moved here in 2009. I went to language school couple of years, then I studied architecture at Cal Poly Pomona. After I got laid off from my corporate job last year, that pushed me to finally focus on building something of my own. I’d been thinking about owning a laundromat for a while, but I never felt ready to take that step alone. Jessica and I knew each other through our friend group, and every time we hung out, we ended up talking about business ideas. Eventually, we realized we should partner up and actually do it. That led us to take over the laundromat together, and now I’m focused on growing our residential and commercial laundry services while learning the business day by day.
I also design functional and portable kids’ feeding products, which I sell on Amazon, Etsy, and Walmart. I have boy-girl twins, and packing their lunches sparked the idea. They were always losing either the spoon or the fork, so I designed a fun, colorful, safe utensil that combines both. That simple problem turned into a product line, and it’s been growing ever since.
Jessica – Gigi and I have been friends for years, always talking about “someday” starting a business together when we would see one another. We would brainstorm every time we got a chance, but timing just never seemed right. Then Gigi got laid off from her corporate architecture job, and suddenly “someday” felt a lot more urgent. I have an Engineering background and am still working in corporate with experience in business, project management, and marketing. I was looking for something systematized and recession-proof. Even during COVID, people needed clean clothes. Laundry is essential.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
After looking at countless locations across LA, we knew we wanted something in the South Bay, close to home, because we didn’t want to be absentee owners. This community has welcomed us in such a special way neither of us is originally from here, but now we call it home. People tend to shy away from discussing the bad or challenging things. For us, we bought this business at a loss. To break even, we’d need to double the revenue. Everyone around us told us it was a bad idea. We talked through every scenario, financial, operational, emotional, and we realized that with the right partnership, we could handle it. So we went for it. Now we’re here, learning every single day. Gigi handles operations and the creative side; I focus on strategy, finances, and help with marketing. We’re polar opposites. I’m a structured planner, she goes with the flow. We’re both also a bit stubborn lol. But we trust each other completely, and we know we won’t let each other down. That’s what keeps us going. This has been anything but a smooth road. We both have incredibly full lives. Gigi has twin toddlers and runs her kids’ product business on Amazon and Etsy. I have a demanding corporate job. Our schedules barely overlap. So, we’re running this business in the margins early mornings, late nights, and weekends. It can be exhausting. And it’s incredibly stressful when you’re not making money yet. There are sleepless nights. Days where we look at the numbers and think, “What did we get ourselves into?” But here’s what saves us: we’re honest with each other. We talked through expectations and timelines upfront, so even on the hard days, we’re not surprised. We’re realistic optimists.
There are moments when one of us is ready to spiral, and the other picks us up. Gigi will simplify things when I’m stressed. I’ll remind her of the bigger picture when she’s overwhelmed with the day-to-day. That balance is everything.
And you know what? This is exactly what we asked the universe for. We’re grateful, even on the hard days. The repeat customers who walk in and now feel like family is what reminds us of why we’re doing this. When someone thanks us for creating a clean, safe space in their neighborhood, or when we help a client who’s drowning in laundry during a home renovation, and they tear up with relief, that’s the fuel that keeps us going. Gigi and I spent almost a year looking for the right laundromat. We wanted a place with potential but also a place that felt like a good fit for us. We eventually found this location, which was previously owned by Joel and Lauren. They had it for a little over a year, but due to personal reasons they decided to sell. They built a solid foundation, and we give them a lot of credit for that. The store already had brand-new, high-efficient machines, and our community really appreciates that. On top of that, customers aren’t limited to coins. We have a kiosk where they can use Apple Pay, Google Pay, credit cards, or cash. After we took over, we focused on connecting with people through social media and local outreach. Little by little, we started hearing great feedback from walk-ins who love the clean, modern setup and the convenience of paying with a card instead of needing cash. Now we’re growing our pickup and delivery service, along with our drop-off wash and fold. Laundry is one of those chores that never ends. For busy parents, older adults, or young professionals working long hours, spending your free time doing laundry can be exhausting. These services give people a break, and that’s what drives us.

As you know, we’re big fans of The Laundry Room. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
We’re not just a laundromat, we’re trying to change how people feel about doing laundry. Let’s be honest: laundry is a chore no one enjoys. But it doesn’t have to be stressful. Our machines are brand-new and very efficient, so clothes get cleaner and dry faster. We have a kiosk where customers can pay digitally no more scrambling for quarters. The place is always clean. But beyond that, we actually listen to our customers. They’ve suggested improvements, and we’ve implemented them. We want people to feel heard.
We also offer wash-and-fold and pickup-and-delivery services because we know life is busy. We recently had a client in the middle of a home renovation construction dust everywhere, laundry piling up, total chaos. We went to their house, helped them bag everything up (which most services don’t do), washed and folded it all, and delivered it back neatly organized. The relief on their face was everything.
But here’s what really sets us apart: our vision. We want this space to feel relaxing, almost like a retreat. We’re planning to integrate nature into the design—plants, natural light, calming colors. When you’re waiting for your laundry, we want you to feel comfortable, maybe even enjoy the moment.
We’re also deeply invested in this community. We’ve helped other aspiring laundromat owners start their businesses. We give advice, share resources, and answer questions. We believe in abundance there’s enough success to go around. And honestly? Lifting others up reminds us why we started this in the first place.
We are most proud that we’re building something with integrity and heart. We didn’t take shortcuts. We’re transparent with each other and with our customers. And we genuinely care not just about the business, but about the people who walk through our doors.
The South Bay community has embraced us in a way that’s honestly been overwhelming in the best way. People appreciate that we’re local, that we’re present, that we care. We’re not a faceless corporation. We’re Gigi and Jessica, and we’re here doing the work.
I’m also proud that we’re proving you can start something even when everyone tells you it’s a bad idea. Even when the odds are stacked against you. Even when you’re scared. We chose courage over comfort, and I hope that inspires someone else to do the same.

Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
Think through the worst-case scenario. Really sit with it. If you can handle the absolute worst outcome and still want to move forward, then go for it, but only if you’re willing to commit and put in the years of work it will take. I wish someone had told us just how much work this would be. There’s always something to improve, something to fix, something to learn. It’s a labor of love, and some days the “labor” part feels heavier than the “love” part. But that’s real entrepreneurship.

Also, you need the right people around you. If you’re going solo, build a strong circle of advisors who complement your weaknesses and will tell you the truth. Gigi and I are opposites, and honestly, this never would have worked if we’d tried to do it alone. Multiple perspectives make better decisions.

And finally, just start. Timing was far from perfect for us. Things will never be perfectly aligned. Trust your gut. Vet the big stuff, but don’t let perfectionism paralyze you. The universe rewards action.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.thelaundryroom.co/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thelaundryroom.hc/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheLaundryRoomHC